Steam chamber for tank cars



w. R. cLEARY Filed Nov. 25. 1924 l/Villiam H. Cleary BY e INVENTOR ATTORNEY Jan. 11,1927.

STEAM CHAMBER Fon TANK cms 6&9. 2.

WITNESS:

Patented Jan. 11, 1927.

WILLIAM R. CLEARY, F PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

STEAM CHAMBER FOR TANK'CARS.

Application filed November 25, 1924. Serial No. 752262.

This invention relates to tank railway cars, and more particularly to a steam chamber for attachment to the undersurtace of the tankot the car for the purpose oi' heating the material contained within the tank car.

The principal object ot the invention is to provide a steam heating chamber which is positioned exteriorly of the tank on a rail way car and which extends along the undersurtace thereof for eliminating many ot the disadvantages and expense incurred with the use of coils in that liability ot rupturing the heating coils is eliminated, and further provides the advantage ot repairing the heating chamber when necessary from the exterior of the tank.

A further object of the invention is to provide a steam or heating chamber which will atiord a relatively great heating surtace to the tank, and which will provide uniform heating throughout the entire length or" the tank car and by placing the heating chamber beneath the tank. The natural radiation of the heat which is upward will travel through the tank and the material therein for melting the said material and keep it in a liquid or semiliquid state; and furthermore, by placing the heating chamber exteriorly of the tank, the tormation of residue about the heating chamber will be eliminated.

A further object ot the invention is the provision ot a steam heating` chamber in combination with a tank car wherein the quantity of the steam charge or charges will he reduced to a minimum, in that the condensation except the exhaust, will be allowed to remain in the chamber until the car is unloaded, thereby permitting the nraintaining ot a uni'lorm temperature over the entire length ot the car with the use ot a relatively small quantity ot steam.

Other objects ot the invention will appear in the `following detail description and in the aceon panying drawings wherein:

Figure 1-is a perspective view of a tank car, showing the improved heating chamber applied thereto.

Figure Q-is a top plan ot the heating chamber' illustrating the braces and-their manner of arrangement.

Figure 3-is a detail cross section through the car.

Figure iwis an enlarged detail view ot the center or tank contact drain outlet and reducing nipples and cap therefor.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the improved steam or heating chamber l shown as attached to the undersnrtace oit the tank 2 ot a tank car 3 ot any approved type. 'il he steam or heating chamber l. extends throughout the entire length ot the tank 2 and is attacl'ied thereto along its edges in any suitable manner, such as by rivets t, as clearly shown in Figure 3 oit the drawings, so as to provide a huid-tight connection between the outer plate 5 which forms the steam chamber in conjunction with the surface ot the tank. To prevent buckling ot the heatino` chamber and to provide sui'iicient support ror the weight ot the car, the outer or bottom plate 5 is securely braced to the bottom of the shell or the tank, by means or a plurality ot brace bars 6, 7 and 8, which extend longitudinally ot the steam chamber are securely riveted to the shell or the tank by rivet-s 9 which extend through the tank, the respective brace bars, and the outer or bottom plate ot the steam chamber. As clearly shown in Figure 2 ot the drawings, the center brace bars 8 are placed at relatively great distances apart so as to permit accommodation ot the various outlets and inlets l'or the chamber while the bars 7 which are relatively heavy, are placed closer together, and nearer to the longitudinal center of the steam chamber to provide su'i iicient bracing for the center portion, and it will also be noted that the respective brace bars have their ends arranged to provide a plurality or a net. work ot channels through which the steam or heated element may circulate over the entire length of the car tor heatingl the tank to heat or nielt the con tents thereot.

The chamber has steam inlets or outlets 10 and 11 respectively, which are equipped with reducing sockets 12 and nipples 13, as clearly shown in Figure 3 ot the drawings, and these openings are disposed in proper position relative to the transverse center ot the chamber and are used for permitting steam to enter the chamber or for draining the steam trom the chan'iber when not in use,

In addition to the steam inlets or outlets, tour flanged openings le are provided at proper spaces and these flanged openings may be titted with valves at the time ot the unloading 'of the tank and used to draw oill the exhaust steam which will accumulate while heating the liquid in the car preparatory to unloading.

lili) llt) It is, of course, to be understood, that the invention maybe constructed in various other manners and the parts associated in different relations, and therefore,l do not desire to be limited in any inanner, except as set forth in the claiin hereunto appended.

1V'Vhat I claim is:

In a railway tank oar,- awrectangular plate secured to the underside thereof about its side and end edges and Jorrned t0 provide a luidftight chamber between said plate and the outer bottoni surface of said tank, a plurality ofrelatively short rectangular spacing' bars equally and transversely disposed parallel to the sideedges ot said plate. and adjacent each end of said chamber, a steam inlet and steain outlet port provided centrally Iin* said plate on Jthe longitudinal center line thereof7 a tank drain nipple eX- tending through troni the enclosed underside ot said tank through and outwardly of said plate and centrally between said inlet and outlet ports, a plurality oit short rectangular spacing bars secured to said plate and about the said inlet and outlet ports and vtank drain nipple in a substantially circularananner, and parallel with said first nained barssaid spacing' adapted to irovide a uniformly spaced chamber lit-etWeen saidv tank and plate throughout the length ot' said clninimr.l K

ln testimony whereof l attix my signature.

VVILLUJV ll. CLEAR-Y. 

